Energy Efficient Construction Services

Construction Management (CM):
Our Construction Management Team is able to manage any AAC designed project. Our experience in AAC Construction, gives us the advantage to foresee most upcoming problems before they occur. We know each step for each Subcontractor. More than 20 years experience in building with autoclaved aerated concrete is giving us the market advantage.

Construction Consulting (CC):
We will consult you in any phase of your project, pre- construction or in construction or even post construction. We are able to start fare before the Design Phase, so when the design begins, it is very efficient and the engineer can quick add his structural details and calculation. We also provide training for your contractor and evaluate for you each individual subcontractor, so that the construction phase will begin and end in time to your satisfaction.

Material Purchase (PO):We will deliver AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE-AAC- anywhere in the world to the best price available- GUARANTEED-

Design BuildDesign-Build is the delivery system of choice. It allows a project to fast track reducing building time and puts the architect and contractors on the same team which allows for a more efficient and cost effective construction methods. The owner, contractor and architect work as a team to produce the best quality at the best economical price.

Benefits of Design-Build(Courtesy of Wikepedia)

It is important to note that the design-build method, while not focused on saving the owner construction costs, nonetheless often saves the owner money on the overall project. The combined effects of carrying a construction loan (which typically carries a higher interest rate than permanent financing) and an earlier useful on-line date usually yields considerable overall profitability to the project and may make seemingly unfeasible projects into genuine opportunities.
The compression is an important aspect of the implementation of this system. Other attributes include:

enhanced communication between the service provider and the client,

increased accountability by the service provider,

single source project delivery, and

a value based project feedback system

Enhanced communication
Because the design parameters of a project are being developed along with the budgetary goals construction methodologies and budget conditions being weighed simutaneously, a project is more likely to be realized than with pure design approach. The owner has greater access to the "team" working on project development as the project is being developed. This efficiency is not a negative "short cut" as a rule, but rather the keystone to the success of the Design&Build model.

Accountability
Rather than a parcelized level of responsibility of the classic design-bid-build, design-build provides an integrated solution for the owner or client. This moves projects away from the "finger-pointing" that is often commonplace in contemporary construction projects, and allows the owner to look to one entity with any questions or concerns.

Single Source
Instead of having several contractors and consultants, an owner has just one entity to deal with. Design revisions, project feedback, budgeting, permitting, construction issues, change orders, and billing can all be routed through the design-build firm. This single point of contact allows a certain degree of flexibility for the owner. Most design-builders will leverage that flexibility for the owner's benefit by continually refining the construction program to maximize the owner's value at the completion of the project.

Value-based project feedback
Typically, in order for a contractor to bid on a project, very specific details relating to the methods and materials must be given to avoid any ambiguity and to make an "apples to apples" comparison of bids. In a design-build context, the owner, the owner's other consultants, and the design-builder can work together to determine what methods and materials will maximize the owner's value. In instances where marginally more expensive materials, designs, or construction methods might yield a higher return on investment for the owner than those of lower cost, the owner is free to adjust the project's program without having to re-bid the entire project.
Almost 70% of traditional contracts end up over budget, compared to D&B which is only around 25-30% over budget. The overage of a D&B project is generally owner driven whereas the overage in the more traditional method tends to be a result of the budget disconnect to which many architects and other design professionals are prone.

Construction Management

Construction Management refers either to the study and practice of the managerial and technological aspects of the construction industry (including construction, construction science, construction management, and construction technology), or to a business model where one party to a construction contract serves as a construction consultant, providing both design and construction advice.
The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) says the 120 most common responsibilities of a Construction Manager fall into the following 7 categories: Project Management Planning, Cost Management, Time Management, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Safety Management, and CM Professional Practice which includes specific activities like defining the responsibilities and management structure of the project management team, organizing and leading by implementing project controls, defining roles and responsibilities and developing communication protocols, and identifying elements of project design and construction likely to give rise to disputes and claims.

Agency CM
Construction Cost Management is a fee-based service in which the Construction Manager (C.M) is responsible exclusively to the owner and acts in the owner's interests at every stage of the project. The construction manager offers advice, uncolored by any conflicting interest, on matters such as:

Optimum use of available funds;

Control of the scope of the work;

Project scheduling;

Optimum use of design and construction firms' skills and talents;

Avoidance of delays, changes and disputes;

Enhancing project design and construction quality;

Optimum flexibility in contracting and procurement.

Cash flow Management.

Comprehensive management of every stage of the project, beginning with the original concept and project definition, yields the greatest possible benefit to owners from Construction Management. As time progresses beyond the pre-design phase the CM's ability to effect cost savings diminishes. The Agency CM can represent the owner by helping to select the design team as well as the construction team and manage the design preventing scope creep, helping the owner stay within a pre-determined budget by performing Value Engineering, Cost/Benefit Analysis and Best Value Comparisons. The Agency CM can even provide oversight services for a CM At-Risk contract.

CM At-Risk
CM at-Risk is a delivery method which entails a commitment by the construction manager to deliver the project within a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), in most cases. The construction manager acts as consultant to the owner in the development and design phases, (often referred to as "Preconstruction Services"), but as the equivalent of a general contractor during the construction phase. When a construction manager is bound to a GMP, the most fundamental character of the relationship is changed. In addition to acting in the owner's interest, the construction manager must manage and control construction costs to not exceed the GMP, which would be a financial hit to the CM company.
CM "At Risk" is a global term referring to a business relationship of Construction contractor, Owner and Architect / Designer. Typically, a CM At Risk arrangement eliminates a "Low Bid" construction project. A GMP agreement is a typical part of the CM and Owner agreement somewhat comparable to a "Low Bid" contract, but with a number of adjustments in responsibilities required by the CM. Aspects of GMP agreements will be elaborated below. The following are some primary aspects of the most potential benefits of a CM At Risk arrangement:

Budget management: Before design of a project is completed ( 6 months to 1-1/2 years of coordination between Designer and Owner), the CM is involved with estimating cost of constructing a project based on hearing from the designer and Owner (design concept) what is going / desired to be built. Upon some aspect of desired design raising the cost estimate over the budget the Owner wants to maintain, a decision can be made to modify the design concept instead of having to spend a considerable amount of time, effort and money re-designing and/or modifying completed construction documents, OR, the Owner decides to spend more money or obtain higher financial support for the project. To manage the budget before design is done, construction crews are mobilized, CM is spending tens of thousands per week just having onsite management, major items are purchased, etc, etc,...is an extremely more efficient use of everyone's time, effort, Architect / Designer's costs, and the CM's General Conditions costs, AND delivering to the Owner a design within his budget.

Construction ConsultingOwners' Representative

OUR OWNER'S REPRESENTATION SERVICES ARE DESIGNED to serve an owner's or end user's best interests during the planning, design and construction phases. Typically we get involved before the selection of the architect and we stay involved through move-in. Our ability to manage people, estimate costs, schedule performance, analyze constructability and foresee complications can save our clients time, expense and frustration.

Our Owner's Representation services are not a substitute for an architect, contractor, legal counsel, and certainly not for an owner. Instead, we act as an agent of the owner, an extension of their staff and a proven valuable supplement to the traditional building construction team.

Owner's Representative Services provide the Owner with a "scaled-down" version of construction management services and would mainly be used when there are only one or two prime contracts, directly between the Owner and the Contractor(s). An Owner's Representative would typically be a company who could supply an on-site representative, as well as office personnel for administration and support.

If brought on early enough into a project, the Owner's Representative can work with the project team during the Design, Preconstruction, Construction and Closeout Phases of the project. Although an Owner's Representative supplies many of the same services as Construction Management, there are some significant differences. While a Construction Manager would carry the main responsibility for contract administration and documentation flow, when there is an Owner's Representative, the architect becomes the main focus of document generation and distribution, as well as on-site project meetings. In addition, the general contractor would be responsible for scheduling and on-site coordination functions, as opposed to a Construction Manager, who would take full responsibility for these functions.

Services which would be supplied by an Owner's Representative include: